Restaurants

Daddy Bao

Daddy Bao | Steamed Buns in Tooting

‘Bao’ literally means ‘packed’ in Chinese.

And Daddy Bao is often, well, bao.

It’s not surprising, really, given that the place is a followup to to Peckham’s equally popular Mr. Bao (only this time, named in honour of the owner’s father, a restaurateur himself). And it’s also not surprising when you consider just how delicious bao buns are, particularly theirs.

The space itself is a simple affair, with bare brick walls and Chinese hanging lanterns surrounding a centrepiece bar. Menus are short, and come with a pencil for you to jot down the numbers of each dish you’d like (which makes the ordering process considerably simpler). On those menus you’ll find,

THE FOOD

Starting with the main affair: the bao buns come packed with the likes of slow-braised pork & pickles; chicken with spicy honey sauce; beef brisket with wasabi slaw; and fried, beer-marinaded ‘drunken’ prawns. Accompanying these, you can spring for sharers like sweet potato chips, fried chicken with miso mayo, and pak choi with a little yellow bean sauce. On the weekends, meanwhile, brunch appears in the form of Bao Benedicts and Taiwanese Spring Onion Pancakes, alongside bottomless, sparkling sake-laced bloody maries. Speaking of which…

THE DRINK

That centrepiece bar isn’t just for show; it’s also shaking up barrel-aged plum wine Negronis (with Campari, gin, plum wine, and chocolate bitters); Martinis rounded out with sake, and an Old Fashioned made with Szechuan spice-infused bourbon.

Which isn’t very old fashioned at all.

NOTE: Daddy Bao is open now. You can find out more, and book a table right HERE.